11/21/05–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JAGUARS HEAD TO BIG TEN COUNTRY TO FACE PURDUE
IN FIRST ROAD TRIP OF THE SEASON
CONTACT:
Kit Strief
Game
Notes
THE SETTING
The South Alabama men’s basketball team makes its first road
trip of the year as it travels to Big 10 Conference member Purdue.
The Jaguars are 1-0 after an 84-46 victory over NAIA member Spring
Hill College on Friday at the Mitchell Center. Purdue opened the
2005-06 season by defeating Wofford 82-75 at home on Saturday.
THE SOUTH ALABAMA
JAGUARS
John Pelphrey, the ninth head coach in South Alabama basketball
history, enters his fourth season as leader of the Jaguars. In his
inaugural season in 2002-03, Pelphrey led the Jags to a 14-14 record
and a 7-8 finish in the Sun Belt Conference, a tie for third in
the West Division. Year two saw the Jaguars compile a 12-16 record
and a 6-9 mark in league play. The Jags won their final three regular
season games to qualify for the eighth and final spot in the Sun
Belt Conference Tournament.
The Jaguars return three starters and five letterwinners from last
year’s team that recorded an overall record of 10-18 and finished
tied for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference West Division at 6-9.
The 2005-06 squad has 14 players on the roster including one freshman
and five transfers.
Pelphrey, a former star player at the University of Kentucky, has
compiled quite a resume as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State,
Marshall and Florida. Pelphrey learned many aspects of coaching
under such greats as Eddie Sutton and Billy Donovan during his nine
years as an assistant. Pelphrey has a 37-48 overall record at USA.
In three seasons of Sun Belt action, Pelphrey is 19-26. He has a
18-22 in non-conference competition.
NEW SEASON
The Jaguars of South Alabama, celebrating their 30th year as inaugural
members of the Sun Belt Conference, began their 38th intercollegiate
basketball season this past Friday. The program started in 1968-69
and USA sports an overall record of 586-452 over 37 years.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue enters the game with a 1-0 record after an 82-75 victory
over Wofford on Saturday. Freshman Nate Minnoy scored 25 points
to lead the Boilermakers in Matt Painter’s debut as coach
for Purdue. Senior Carl Landry chipped in 22 points. The Boilermakers
shot 59 percent for the game, but shot 15-of-29 from the line and
committed 21 turnovers. Wofford had a 74-71 lead with 2:18 to play,
but were unable to hold on.
Painter, in his first year has head coach at Purdue, took over for
legendary head coach Gene Keady who won 512 games in 25 years in
West Lafayette. Purdue was 7-21 last year and 3-13 in the Big 10.
The Boilermakers are led by senior Carl Landry who was a second
team All-Big Ten selection by conference coaches and media last
year. Landry led the team with 18.2 points per game, and 7.1 rebounds
per game.
This year, Purdue returns three starters, but senior guard David
Teague went down with a knee injury and will miss the season. Teague
averaged 14 points and 5.5 rebounds last season. Also back is Landy
and senior forward Matt Kiefer (9.0 ppg., 4.9 rpg.) The Boilers
have eight newcomers, including five freshmen.
THE RETURN IS IN
USA returns five letterwinners from last year’s squad including
senior Richard Law, senior Mario Jointer, senior Jeffrey Collins,
junior Carlos Smith and junior Steven Cowherd. Senior Michael Phillips
also returns, but he did not play in 2004-05.
NEW LOOK JAGUARS
Five new players have been added to the Jaguar roster this season.
Two players -- Chey Christie and Demetric Bennett -- had to sit
out last year after transferring from Clemson and Southern Methodist,
respectively. Signees include freshman forward Trajinski Grigsby
from Nacogdoches, Texas, along with junior college transfer Leandro
Buboltz from South Plains JC (Texas). USA has two players that will
sit out the 2005-06 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Junior forward
Kenny Hooks transferred from Oregon State and junior guard Daon
Merritt transferred from Richmond will be eligible in 2006-07.
RECAPPING THE
LAST TIME OUT
The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team opened
the 2005-06 regular season with an 84-46 rout of NAIA foe Spring
Hill College on Friday night in front of 1961 fans at the Mitchell
Center. Senior Richard Law scored a game-high 19 points on seven-of-nine
shooting from the floor and three-of-five from beyond the arc. Senior
newcomer Chey Christie scored 13 points in his first game as a Jaguar.
Senior Mario Jointer added 10 points. The Jaguars dominated the
game, forcing 29 Spring Hill turnovers and USA shot 68 percent in
the second half on 17-of-25 shooting from the field. USA had an
11-point cushion at half at 40-29, but went on a 23-4 run through
the first 9:32 of the second half to open a 63-33 lead. USA then
closed the game with a 16-3 run fueled by three dunks and a 3-pointer
in the final 1:11 of the game.
BENCH SCORING
USA used all 11 eligible players in the season opener against Spring
Hill on Friday. Kenny Hooks and Daon Merritt have to sit out due
to NCAA transfer rules. USA’s bench outscored the Badgers
31-11 as SHC used nine players.
DOING THE DISHES
USA had 17 assists in the season opener against Spring Hill. USA
had 18 assists in an 82-76 loss to UAB on Dec. 31, 2004. Junior
Carlos Smith led the team with seven assists on Friday. He set his
career best in assists with eight against Spring Hill on Jan. 24,
2004.
WIPING THE BOARDS
USA out-rebounded Spring Hill 34-24 in the season opener, including
15-10 on the offensive end.
DOMINATION IN
OPENERS AT HOME
With an 84-46 victory over Spring Hill on Friday, USA improved to
21-4 all-time in season openers at home. It was the first season
opener at home under John Pelphrey.
DUNKIN’
JAGUARS
USA had four dunks in the final five minutes of the season opener
on Friday. Three of the dunks were in consecutive possessions all
fueled by turnovers. Chey Christie had the first dunk at the 4:54
mark in the second half, followed by three turnovers on consecutive
possessions by Spring Hill in the final 1:11 led to slams by senior
Michael Phillips, freshman Trajinski Grigsby and sophomore Demetric
Bennett.
FROM DOWNTOWN
USA opened the season with 10 3-pointers against Spring Hill on
Friday. USA shot five-of-20 from beyond the arc in the first half
for 20 percent, but warmed up to 55.6 percent in the second half
on five-of-nine. For the game, USA was 10-of-29 for 34.5 percent.
The 10 treys were the most since USA tallied 11 trifectas against
Reinhardt College on Feb. 21, 2005. USA won that game 77-61.
RUNNIN’
JAGUARS
USA used a pair of key second half runs to pull away from Spring
Hill College in the 2005-06 season opener on Friday night. The Jaguars
opened the second half with a 23-4 runs through the first nine minutes
and closed the game with a 16-3 run in the final five minutes.
ON THE RADIO
AND INTERNET
All South Alabama basketball games are broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM
out of Mobile. The games also can be accessed via the Internet at
ww.wnsp.com. Long-time play-by-play announcer Lee Shirvanian is
in his 27th season with the Jaguars. Broadcasts begin airing 30
minutes before tip-off. A post-game show is held following most
games. Internet audio can be heard live at www.wnsp.com, and for
home games only, live audio is available at www.usajaguars.com.
THE COACHES
SHOW
Jaguar play-by-play announcer Lee Shirvanian and coach John Pelphrey
host “The Courtroom” each week during the basketball
season at Banana Docks Cafe in Mobile. The show airs on WNSP 105.5
FM. The show also can be accessed at www.wnsp.com. The one-hour
show begins Tuesday, Nov. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. The show will then
return to its regular Monday slot on Dec. 5 from noon to 1 p.m.
JAGS AID HURRICANE
RELIEF EFFORTS WITH GAME
The University of South Alabama played its lone exhibition game
against the University of Mobile on Wednesday, November 9 as part
of a doubleheader, “Coaches vs. Katrina” to benefit
recent hurricane victims along the Gulf Coast.
Jaguar Director of Athletics, Joe Gottfried, and his son, Alabama
head coach Mark Gottfried, came up with the idea to play the games
at the Mitchell Center. South Alabama battled Mobile in the first
game, while No. 14 Alabama battles Spring Hill College in the nightcap.
Tickets were $5 for every seat in the 10,000-seat Mitchell Center.
All proceeds from the event went to the South Alabama and South
Mississippi chapters of the Salvation Army to benefit victims of
Hurricane Katrina. Workers, including the referees, donated their
time as part of the many areas who are waiving fees that normally
would be charged in order to maximize the money raised for the cause.
The event raised over $80,000 for hurricane relief victims and drew
a crowd of close to 9,000 people.
NEW COACH ON
THE BENCH
The University of South Alabama has hired a new assistant coach
this year. David Farrar, who is no stranger to Sun Belt Conference
basketball, has been hired onto Pelphrey’s staff. Farrar was
an assistant coach under Clem Haskins at Western Kentucky (1984-86)
and was the head coach at Middle Tennessee from 1991-96. His last
stint was at the University of Idaho where he was head coach from
1997-2001.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
The Jaguars have one of the toughest schedules in recent memory
this season. USA travels to Purdue, Tennessee, Loyola Marymount,
Southern Mississippi, Louisiana-Monroe and hosts Houston, Western
Michigan all before the Sun Belt Conference slate. Houston, Western
Michigan, Denver and Western Kentucky were all NIT participants
last year and Louisiana-Lafayette was an NCAA Tournament team. The
Jaguars open the 2005-06 regular season on Nov. 18 at 7:05 p.m.
against Spring Hill.
JAGS ON TV
The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team will
be featured at least twice on TV this season. The Jags will play
Houston on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. in the seventh annual Coors Classic
which will be broadcast on Comcast Sports Southeast and will play
at Arkansas-Little Rock on Feb. 2 on ESPN Plus as part of the Sun
Belt Conference package. Games at Purdue (Nov. 22) and at Tennessee
(Jan. 4) have tentative TV slots.
“MOONLIGHT
MADNESS”
The Jaguar men’s and women’s basketball teams held their
version of Midnight Madness with “Moonlight Madness”
to tip-off the 2005-06 basketball season on Oct. 14 at the Mitchell
Center. The teams each scrimmaged for about 10-15 minutes.
SEVENTH ANNUAL
COORS CLASSIC
The Jaguar men’s basketball team will host the Seventh Annual
Coors Classic at the Mitchell Center on Sat., Dec. 17. It is a one-night
college basketball doubleheader. This year’s classic features
South Alabama, Florida State out of the Atlantic Coast Conference,
Bowling Green out of the Mid-American Conference and Houston out
of Conference USA. South Alabama will face Houston at 5 p.m. followed
by Florida State versus Bowling Green at 7:30.
UP NEXT
USA makes its first road trip of the season as it travels to Big
Ten Conference member Purdue on Tues., Nov. 22 at 6:05 p.m. Central
Time. It is the first meeting between the two schools.
JAGS SIGN THREE
DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
The Jaguars addressed their needs for next year with three strong
players during the early signing period. Evansville, Ind., native
6-2 Darren Cloud (shooting guard), Monette, Ark., product 6-4 shooting
guard Brooks Taylor and 6-6 small forward Anthony (A.J.) Wilson
from Mt. Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C. all signed this
week. USA also will have the services of transfers Kenny Hooks and
Daon Merritt in 2006-07 as they had to sit out the 2005-06 season
due to NCAA transfer rules.
NEW FACES
The Jaguars will have a couple of new faces this year with the addition
of four new players. Chey Christie, a transfer from Clemson along
with Demetric Bennett, a transfer from UAB, sat out last season
due to NCAA transfer rules are eligible this year. Also, junior
college transfer Leandro Buboltz is on the team, along with true
freshman Trajinski Grigsby.
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